How much horsepower do Yamaha Banshees have?

Answer 1

I have a 1996 Banshee that I recently started dropping a little money into. Really just to make it more competitive with the new famed 4 strokes, mostly 450R's and Suzuki Quadracer 450S. Everything else I pretty much beat, except Outlaws... When I got the Banshee it was completely stock as far as I know. Im positive the bore and everything was, the only possible thing that wasnt was jets, but not likely. When first put on the dyno, stock, it made right at 35 horsepower. Shortly after I took the ugly black stock pipes and silencers off, added ProCurcuit platinum pipes and silencers, a jetkit and boost bottle and it jumped up to 42 horsepower. These things thrive off small bolt-on mods like this. A few months later I was bored with it again, so I added Boyesen Stage 2 reeds, stage 3 jets, 4 Mil Hotcams crank, and bought a .40 over piston kit from wiseco. A few other small things not worth mentioning and suddenly this thing has torque, which Banshees are notorious for not having on low end! Now my old beater Shee, which isn't quite a beater anymore, makes over 60 horsepower and has neck snapping torque even on the low end every time you twist the throttle, yes twist. I added Elkin suspension and this thing runs rings around the new little 4stroke thumpers. My riding buddy has an 06 Raptor 700, bored to a 740cc i believe, full exhaust, sprocket swaps and stage 2 cams, I blow him out every time he decides to lay on his throttle :) Since it now has more than tolerable handling with the elkin complete kit (+2 arms, Wider axle and improved piggyback shocks, go take a look at Elkin products) its not just a straight line bullet. So if youre asking about stock horsepower, around 35 horsepower is your answer. Slightly modded with no engine tearing down (common bolt-ons) 40-45HP. But the possibilities for these things are endless if you have the money, ive seen dune shees go upwards of 100HP when you add longer stroke crankshafts, new heads for example cheetah cub, alcohol and so on.... and of course the crazy 600CC sportbike engine swap! 125-160HP!! I have always, and probably always will be for as long as they allow me, be a 2 stroke nut. That's all I've had as far as ATV's go and I love them. Yes I've ridden the new era 4 strokes, and theyre just not my cup of tea. Ill stick to my 88' 250R, 2 blasters (highly modded) and my beloved Banshee :) Theres nothing like that 2 stroke sound and ungodly powerband. Hope this helps.